Compound graduated spring for hat-founcing machines



PgtentdJune 16, 1896.

FOR HAT TOUNGING MACHINES.

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(No Model.)

GOMPOUND GRADUATED SPRING Nirnn STATES ATFNT OFFICE..

COMPOUND GRADUATEDI SPRING FOR HAT-FOUNCING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,300, dated June 16, 1896.

Application filed June l 9, l 8 9 5.

To all whom `if may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. l-IOWE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Graduated Springs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in compound graduated springs, such, for in-` stance, as are employed upon various forms of automatic machinery and mechanical contrivances where a graduated tension is re quired for a given time, after which said tension is suddenly increased and maintained, as, for instance, as shown in my Letters Patent No. 540,445, granted June 4, 1895.

It is the object of my invention to provide simple and reliable means whereby the tension of the spring may be greatly increased at any predetermined point of expansion, and to so construct said spring as to permit Of its free and easy attachment to machines upon which it is designed to be used; and to condense said mechanism so as to occupy a space but little greater than the ordinary spring would occupy. I further provide means for adjusting the action of the second spring, and also for the substitution of heavier or lighter coils as the occasion may require. p

Upon the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, the same letters of reference denote like or corresponding parts upon the several figures, and of which- Figure l shows a side elevation of my improved graduating-spring, the parts being in their retracted position. Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross-section of the device, the parts agreeing with Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is also a central vertical cross-section, the device being shown in an expanded position.

Referring to the drawings, it will be ob the different lengths of the two springs and to the location upon the tube of the adjustable collar against which the upper end of the outer ISerial No. 553,293. (No model.)

` spring engages, the action of said outer spring takes place after the inner one, by reason of which the combined pressures thereof is much greater.

Referring to the letters of reference marked upon the drawings, Aindicates a cylindrical tube which is fitted with screw-plugs B and C in its upper and lower ends respectively. These plugs serve to close the ends of the tubes, and the lower one also has a lug a upon it by means of which it may be attached to a machine. Vithin the tube is fitted a piston D, the stem E of which projects out of the tube through a bore in the before-men tioned plug B. The end of said stem is flattened and provided with a hole b for attachment. It will thus be seen that the device is secured in position by means of the said lug a of the tube,`and the hole b upon the opposite end of the piston. Around the stem E of the piston is placed a coiled spring F, the end of which bears against the piston and the outer end against the plug in the top of the tube.

The sleeve Gr upon the outer periphery of the tube slides freely thereon and is secured to the piston within by means of a pin c, which passes freely through slots d d in either side of the cylindrical tube. It will thus be apparent that any upward movement of the piston against the action of its spring will carry with it the sleeve upon the outside, which in turn supports` the outer spring H. Said spring is thus raised in its normal position until its upper end comes in Contact with the adjustable stop I, clamped upon the upper periphery of the tube, when, by said engagement and the continued outward movement of the piston, said outer spring will be compressed in addition to the inner one, thus renderingadditional resistance to the movement of the piston.

I place a piece of soft rubber K in the bottom of the tube below the piston, to receive the return movement of the spring-actuated piston, and thus preserve the device from jar and strain.Y

Ample provisions are made for the several adjustments of the tension and action of the springs employed, by reason of the feasibility to substitute springs of different strengths,

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and also to adj ust the points of action of the secondary spring by simply raising or lowering the collar which it engages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A graduated-spring device, comprising a tube, plugs itted in the ends thereof, a piston central with said tube having an enlarged lower end therein, and its free end extending through a bore of the plug in the end of the tube, a spring fitted around the tube, and means for its engagement with said tube and the lower end of the piston before mentioned.

2. A graduatedespring device, comprising a tube, having slots in the sides thereof, a piston Within said tube and having pins extending therefrom and through the slots aforesaid, a short spring upon the outside of the tube and being operatively connected to the pins of the piston, means for limiting the upward movement of said spring, a spring Within the tube, encircling the piston and operating between its shoulder and that of the tube, substantially as described.

3. A graduated-spring device comprising a tube, a spring itted therein, a piston for engagement with said spring, a compressible spring upon the outside of said tube, means for operatively connecting the lower ends of the springs aforesaid, whereby the springs are engaged and compressed simultaneously, an

adjustable collar upon the outside of the tube whereby the time of action of said outside springis adjusted, substantially as described.

4. A graduating-spring device comprising a tube, a spring fitted therein, a piston for engagement With said spring, slots in the sides of the tubes, a pin secured to the piston and extending through the slots aforesaid, a sleeve movable upon the outside of the tube and engaged by said pins, a spring upon the outside of the tube being engaged by the before-mentioned sleeve, means for limiting the upward movement of said springs.

5. A graduated-spring device, comprising a tube having closed ends, a spring iitted Within said tube, a piston Within said spring and extending through the upper closed end of the tube, a spring upon the outside of the tube, an adjustable collar secured upon the upper portion of said tube for engagement by the spring secured thereon, means secured to the piston for engaging the loWer ends of said springs simultaneously, the Whole arranged to operate substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 18th day of June, A. D. 1895.

JOHN B. IIOWE. fitnesses C. M. NEWMAN, WM. G. WALKLEY. 

